A Good Man Is Hard To Find Analysis Essay

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“Overbearing Grandmothers Can Get You Killed”

Flannary O’Connor’s short story entitled “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” showcases a family’s journey to Florida and their deadly encounter with a fugitive. The grandmother is the central character who continually attempts to persuade and manipulate the actions of her family, the itinerary of the trip which cumulates in the death of her family because of her untimely outspokenness. Early in the fictional story, we begin to perceive the grandmother’s continual attempts to control and manipulate the family in every decision and action that is made. The family was composed of her son Bailey, his wife, and two children, John Wesley and June Star. The family wishes to travel to Florida while the grandmother desires to travel to Tennessee, “she was seizing at every chance to change Bailey’s mind” (O’Connor pg. 427). Even before the trip,
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She claims that a trip to Florida could be dangerous as there was an escaped fugitive on the loose named The Misfit. “I wouldn’t take my children in any direction with a criminal like that aloose in it” (427). As fate would have it, the family is involved in an accident and The Misfit with two of his cohorts happen upon the marooned family. As the three fugitives approach their vehicle, Grandmother, in her consistent pattern of always speaking out, recognizes the Misfit. “You’re the Misfit! I recognized you at once” (433). This announcement would make any escaped convict uneasy. The Misfit replies with a chilling statement, “Yes’m, but it would have been better for all of you, lady, if you hadn’t of reckernized me” (433). At this point, the Misfit is left with no other alternatives but to kill or risk being turned in. As a result, he and his companions murder the entire family. This would have been one occasion for Grandmother to hold her